Lake Charles, LA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

S. ' The rule layers onto the Louisiana Smokefree Air Act, which the city separately adopted under § 8-75. Section 8-78 exempts specific spaces from the underlying smoking restrictions, including bars where food service is incidental, private residences (unless used for child or health care), hotel and motel guest rooms, small retail stores serving 150 or fewer people with 15 or fewer employees, tobacco businesses, private automobiles, private enclosed offices, and restaurants seating 50 patrons or fewer. The fire prevention division enforces signage, plans, and business compliance, while the police department enforces individual smoking violations and can issue tickets directly, per § 8-80.

Businesses and building operators must post 'Smoking' or 'No Smoking' signs at major entrances under § 8-79, and movie theaters must display smoking-area information on screen for at least five seconds before each feature. A person cited for exceeding a designated smoking area, failing to post signage, or smoking in a prohibited buffer zone can raise an affirmative defense of lacking actual control over the premises, but only by submitting a sworn affidavit to the fire prevention division within five business days of the notice of violation.